>RELIGIOUS FANATICISM PART 8
ITS CURE: "ABANDON THE PRIEST-CLASS"

Now I have no quarrel with anyone anymore; because I have abandoned
the priest-class (of all religions: Pandit, Mullaas, and so on) (sggs 1159).
Whatever the priest-class has written, I reject; I do not accept any of it. My heart is pure, and so
I have seen the Lord within. Kabeer says: searching, searching within the
self, the Lord is met (sggs 1159).
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The art of Spiritual living is the subtlest of all other arts. Therefore,
as indicated in the scriptures and the teachings of the world Masters, one must
thoroughly prepare himself by eliminating all discordant and undesirable elements
in his life. This is must before one can freely and undistractedly plunge into
the Divine or Spiritual Life. Because, without raising the character of his thoughts
and depth of his understanding, one cannot raise the quality of his deeds.

In
this context, we are reminded time and again by the scriptures and the Men of
Light that the proper understanding and wisdom comes with self-integration — self-improvement,
self-development, self-unfoldment, self-purification and self-rediscovery. Without
achieving this Self-mastery within, one will not be able to abandon his association
with the evil of selfishness: egoism, false self or "I-ness and my-ness"
which gives rise to lust, greed, wrath, worldly attachment, self-conceit, enviousness,
stubborn mindedness, and so on.

Selfishness is said to be the root of evil
in the world. It begets corruption, falsehood, crookedness or fraud. The priest-craft is crafty by nature, therefore continuing menace to the world
peace, harmony and beauty. It is the
selfishness of the materialistic members of the priest-class (Pujaaree
group) and their associates are responsible for the mess of all religions in the world.
From our own experience and the experience of the world
Masters, we know it's like this. This priest-class distort the scriptural truth
to fit their own sordid ends, they distort the vision of Prophets to serve their
own selfish motives and schemes, they create unmeaning rituals and blind superstition
for controlling and swindling simpletons, they create complex and antagonistic
adherent to divide people, they end up being powerful instrument in the hands
of debased kings and corrupt politicians and other leaders in their scheme to
oppress and exploit masses, and they rob people of their Spiritual Unfoldment.
Falsehood and unrighteousness is the end result of such craftiness, making people
go astray from the straight path.

The
purpose and aim of any true scriptural text or Spiritual Teachers is to bring
about a revolution in the individual's character and vision by integrating his
mind and educating his conditioned intellect. To that end, the scriptures andthe Wise ones roar the following
declaration: abandon your association with the crafty priest-class of all religions,
debased rulers, kings and their lackeys (corrupt, ignorant and selfish clergy,
clerics, religious leaders, politicians, affluent class, etc.). Abandoning association
with them means abandoning association with the religious corruption or falsehood,
and those who perpetrate it. As indicated in the scriptures, this is must if we
intend to live in a conflict-free and harmonious society.

Say Bismillar, In
the name of God, as the priest does with a knife when he offers an animal. Bismillar
your old self to find your real name (Sufi Giyani Jalaluddin Rumi).

Do not do according to their (priests) deeds, for they say but
do not perform (Bible, Mt 23:3).

But you men (priests)
have turned aside from the way, you have caused many to stumble in the law, you
have ruined the covenant of Levi (Bible, Mal 2:8). You blind guides! You strain
out a gnat but swallow a camel. (Bible, Matt 23:24).

O ye who believe
there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in falsehood devour
the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah (Quran, 9:34).

A
great one has said:

"Those who believe, do so like the dumb driven cattle
in a herd and there is no active enthusiasm or diligent intellectual stocktaking
on their part when they hear an advice or follow a path; unfortunately, religion
is not meant for the unintelligent or for the stupid." Unfortunately, like
any selfish person would do, the corrupt Pujaaree group (priest-class)
takes advantage of people's unintelligence and stupidity.

All world Masters
and the Bhagats (the Gurmukhs...) were well aware of the
crookedness of this Pujaaree group. The Sikh Gurus not only strongly condemned
the corrupt priest-class, they also took many precautions for preventing it from
arising amongst the Sikhs. If we recall the history, for this very reason Guru
Gobind Singh, the last Sikh Master, burnt some of them alive in a well at Anand
Pur Sahib, and also at Dehra Dun! Even today, at times, many contemporary Men
of Light, can be heard humorously making comments such as, "Put the entire
priest-class of all religions in a ship. Once the ship has reached mid-ocean,
torpedo it!"

The priest-craft is very old; hence,
very corrupt! In the very beginning there were no priests or shrines of pilgrimage!
Things changed with the passing of the time, however. In ancient time, the person
in charge of his ethnic group was also the shaman, the priest, the philosopher,
the spiritual guide, the ruler or the king, and so on, who forged systems of law,
worship, culture, custom and belief as it suited his own actions and mentality.
As these small groups varied, so did the systems which satisfied each one including
their languages, communication and differences. Thus, from the very inception,
the followers of these groups absorbed the singular thought pattern postulated
by their culture and their leaders, and these distinctions were perpetuated from
one generation to the next. Over the centuries, although the social and political
systems keep changing, but the priest-class remains unchanged, absorbed in the
singular thought pattern.

Nowadays, if a person because of his crooked
ways does not fit in the society, or if someone does not have any qualification
to pursue a vocation, he becomes a priest (Pandit, Mullaa, Bhai or Granthee,
Padre or clergyman, Rabbi, and so on)! A very paying business indeed, wherein
there need not be any investment and, therefore, it is a safe activity of "all
gains and no loss"! Baabaa Nanak says:

ਵਰਨ ਭੇਖ ਨਹੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ...: Varan na bhekh nahee brahamana khatree ...: (In the
beginning) there were no social classes, no religious robes, no caste (Brahmin,
Kh'shaatriya, etc.). There were no demi-gods or temples, no cows or Gaayatri prayer.
There were no burnt offerings, no ceremonial feasts, no cleansing rituals at sacred
shrines of pilgrimage; no one worshipped in adoration. There was no Mullah, there
was no Qazi. There was no Shaykh, or pilgrims to Mecca. There was no king or subjects,
and no worldly egotism; no one spoke of himself (sggs 1035).

All world Masters appeared whenever the humanity was suffering
from a corrupt and stagnant priesthood. If we sincerely look into the glorious
lives of all world Masters (Nanak, Buddha, Mahaanvir, Jesus, Muhammad, Kabeer,
Zarathustra, etc.) we will find that they all fearlessly raised their voices against
the falsehood of the crafty priest-class, religions, religious establishments
and religious regimes. They came with a vigorous mission to free mankind from
the bounds of corrupt priests and their lackeys (corrupt, ignorant and selfish
religious leaders, politicians, affluent class, debased rulers or kings, etc.),
and to uplift humanity from the then prevailing foolish ways to enable it to walk
erect on the path of Truth and Righteousness, selfless service and Devotion. They
sacrificed their lives to reform the masses, to spread the message of righteous
values among humanity, to reestablish Dharma and moral order when people
went astray, and to protect those who still hold on tenaciously to Spiritual Truth.
But they were harassed, tortured, and persecuted by the priest-class.

Generally,
after the Master left the scene, what happens is that his followers down the
road create a separate religions and priesthoods with their own selfish agenda,
dogmas, unmeaning rituals, complex adherents and antagonists! And the history
repeats itself!

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥੩॥: Pandit mulaan jo likhi deeaa. Chhaadi cale ham kachhoo n leeaa ||3||: Whatever the Pandit and the Mullaan has written (the path of Karamkaand, Shariyat...), I have abandoned (all of that); I have not taken any of it ||3||. (sggs 1159).

"I
will add that it is good to be born in a church, but it is bad to die there. It
is good to be born as a child, but it is bad to remain a child. Churches, ceremonies,
symbols, are good for children; but when the child is grown up, he must burst
either the church or himself." (Vivekanand).

Three things that keep us supporting (knowingly or unknowingly)
our own selfishness or crookedness as well as the corrupt priest-class are: Unconsciousness
or headlessness, sensual tastes and desires that gush out of our false ego (false
self or "I-ness" and "my-ness"), and our bad habits which
have made us act like robots and machines.

Overtaken by this dangerous
trio, we conduct our daily activities in shear selfishness; and the priests lay
down rituals, ceremonies, religious wearing and other paraphernalia, and a list
of "dos" and "don'ts" for the followers. They also issue religious
edicts and decrees for others to follow. They take upon themselves the task of
administering the punishment to offenders of God's commandment and their own edicts
and decrees. As the religion gets older and life becomes complicated, the list
of such rules grows longer and longer; making one wonder if the wish of the priests
is not the wish of God!

If you want Dervishhood, spiritual poverty, and emptiness, you must be
friends with a Sheikh. Talking about it, reading books, and doing practices don't
help. Soul receives from soul that knowing (Sufi Jallaludin Rumi).

The
selfish and corrupt priest-class of each religion wants everybody to believe totally
that their religious text is the absolute andfinal word of God; therefore,
if anything is not stated in the scripture of their own religion, then, it cannot
be true! Also, they want people to believe that their Prophet was the only man
of Light. They preach their followers that anybody who does not belong to their
religion is inferior or do not deserve to live. This is why their is so much hatred
towards other religions and other scriptures; for people think that other religions
and their scriptural texts are false, hence, must be destroyed. They name their
blind religious zeal as "Jihaad", "Crusade", "Dharma Yudh" or "Holy
War"; and perpetrate untold sufferings and cruelty on humanity in the name of
religion and God.

ਬਦਫੈਲੀ ਗੈਬਾਨਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ...
: Badfailee gaibaanaa khasam na jaanaee.....: The foolish demon, who does evil
deeds, does not know God. Call him a mad-man, if he does not understand the Self.
The strife of this world is evil; these struggles are consuming it. Without the
Lord’s Name, life is worthless. Through doubt, the people are being destroyed
(sggs 142).

Such stubborn
fanatics suffering from the mental disease of duality, create absurd and frightening
concepts about God. They act as "there yonder" is a separate God of
Muslims, a separate God of Christian, a separate God of Sikhs, a separate God
of Hindus, so on and so forth. To them a Sikh soul is different than a Christian
soul or a Hindu soul or a Muslim soul, and vice versa. Thus, they sow the seeds
of ignorance, hatred, animosity, dissatisfaction and differences in the human
society. As a result, the world history is soaked with wars, holocaust and innocent
blood; all in the name of religion and God. In this fallen condition, ignorant
fools commit sins through their Mann (mind or thought), Bachan (speech
or word), and Karam (body or deeds).

The reason people behave in such a destructive manners is that, due to ignorance,
they do not see One God in all beings. Overtaken by the spell of duality, false ego-sense,
or mistaken self-identity, they have no sense of Oneness. Consequently, such
people always find themselves engaged in activities that brings the human society
harm. Scriptures consider such people enemies of the goodness in the world,
because they are always engaged in inventing or creating something that is conducive
to only destruction.

ਹਉਮੈ ਝਗੜਾ ਪਾਇਓਨੁ ਝਗੜੈ ਜਗੁ ਮੁਇਆ ॥: Haumai jgagrhaa paaionjhagrhai jag muiaa: Through egotism, the world is caught in conflict and strife, and it dies (in these quarrels and suffers...). (sggs 790).

The
complex and antagonistic differences of belief and custom created by the crafty
priest-class gives rise to obstructions that separate man and his organized religion
from God. These obstructions are dogmatic fanaticism, ruthless bigotry, blind
prejudices and brutal intolerance. Man's such ignorant behavior has given birth
to a serious problem — religious extremism and fundamentalism. Because of this,
thousands of years of religion has been stained by bloodshed! There is nothing
more devilish and hellish than a thirst for blood, fired by a religious fanaticism.

The crafty priest-class divides people into religious groups, alliances,
castes, classes, creeds, race, color of the skin, ancestry, social status, and
so on. Such divisions give rise to false pride (Ahankaar); which, in turn,
begets sin and corruption; making people go astray from the path of Truth and
Righteousness (Dharma).

The priests
read and read scriptures, only to instigate arguments, controversies, conflicts,
differences and communalism. They interpret the scriptural texts, religious philosophy
and the gospel of godly souls to suit their own concepts, selfish deeds,
sins, material logic and mental speculations. Thus, they intentionally pervert
the true sublime essence of the scriptural statements for their own benefits (lust
and greed — "Kanik Kaamini"). Mentally blind, they are unable to see unity
in diversity as their scriptures reveal to them. They can't preach the Truth;
for they themselves are false. That's why they use religious places for preaching
brutal hatred toward other religions and fellow human beings, and for making inflammatory
political pronouncements. They side with the falsehood and hideous lies when it
comes to God, His Word, and matters related to Him. They construct (or reconstruct)
the theology of their respective religion to suit their own hypotheses, notions
or fabrications. They edit the scriptures to suit their own selfish actions and
loose character, as well as that of the rulers or kings (who in many cases also
control the clerics and clergy). They take the Messenger's words out of context
to justify their own personal thoughts, deeds, hypotheses and idiosyncrasies.

Consequently,
the fraud and corruption have become the resting ground for the religious places
of worship, religious institutions and organizations. Materialistic society, oppressive
religious regimes, as well as the socio-political-economic systems are supported
on the foundation of fraud and corruption ("Kanic Kaamini").

ਥਾਨਸਟ ਜਗ ਭਰਿਸਟ ਹੋਏ ਡੂਬਤਾ ਇਵ ਜਗੁ ॥: Thaansat jag bhrishat hoye doobtaa iv jag: The holy places of
worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning (sggs 662).

A
spiritually ignorant person is cruel and destructive by nature. To support the
corrupt rulers and their sinful deeds, the corrupt priest-class meddle in the world's
political affairs and support the wars of their nations. If we review the world
history, we will find that they have also supported the opposing sides in wars
within their own religion! During the religious history of Europe and middle-east,
Christian "Crusaders" and Muslims alike killed each other and countless innocent
people, destroyed sacred places of worship; all in the name of religion and God!
They collaborate with their respective political powers when they conquered, enslaved,
plundered, looted and humiliated other peoples. They were in the forefront of
the persecuting, torturing, and killing of those who disagreed with them.

It's
a common occurrence in religions that if a group within a given religion loses
its control on the day-to-day affairs (i.e., "money"!) of that religion,
they split into sects and cults, based on their ill feelings and ill intentions
rather than a genuine Spiritual cause. This is why every religion is plagued with
different sects and cults; who do not see each other eye-to-eye.

ਮੂਰਖੁ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਆਖੀ ਸੂਝੈ ॥ ਜਿਹਵਾ ਰਸੁ ਨਹੀ ਕਹਿਆ ਬੂਝੈ ॥ ਬਿਖੁ ਕਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਜਗ ਸਿਉ ਲੂਝੈ ॥੬॥: Moorakhu hoi n aakhee soojhai ..: That person is a fool
who does not see (the All-pervading Lord...) with his eyes; whose tongue is devoid of the (Naam-) Ras (ਨਾਮ-ਰਸ, Taste of Naam...),
and who does not understand (the Gurmat, Gurbani's Teaching...). Intoxicated with the poison (of Maya), he
argues with the world ||6|| (sggs 414).

As for those
who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in
the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them the truth
of all that they did (Quran, 6:159).

The results are in front of us!
The corrupt priest class of all organized religions has simply reduced religion
to a level of mundane business. The basic principle that religion is not different
from the practice for the Realization of one's own Essential Nature (Mool, Jot, Source....) is forgotten.
Its object of seeing One God in all, achieving mutual love, selfless service,
equanimity of mind and enjoying real Peace, Love, Joy and Bliss as a living reality
is no where to be found. Consequently, an integral view of life, right faith,
right type of spiritual knowledge and right conduct needed for treading the path
of salvation is missing.

Apparently, from the early days, the crafty priest-craft
has been the great menace of history! Seemingly, all world religions have been
hijacked by a small group of fanatic and bigot clerics, clergy, and their lackeys
(corrupt, ignorant and selfish priests, religious leaders, politicians, rulers,
kings, affluent class, etc.). The way they are doing it is by hiding their evil
face and true colors behind the faith and religion! How can this cancer of religious
corruption, bigotry and brutal fanaticism that is destroying the civilized world
be eradicated? The Gurbani offers us the solution: "Abandon the priest-class"
and "hold tight to the Truth only".

The central theme of the world
religions is one and the same: See the same One God in all beings, love one another,
serve one another, be sincere to one another, and be sympathetic and responsible
toward all beings. Thus, the way to bring the entire world into selfless Love,
peace, harmony and beauty is in cultivating the right vision or awakening to the
True Nature within. This is the right way to God as indicated in the scriptures
and the teachings of the world Masters. Therefore, the proof of our Spiritual
Development is the way we interact with one another, with our communities and
with the world at large.

ਸੇਖਾ ਚਉਚਕਿਆ ਚਉਵਾਇਆ ਏਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਇਕਤੁ ਘਰਿ ਆਣਿ ॥: Sekhaa chouchakiaa chouvaaiaa
ehu manu ikat ghar aan: O Shaykh, you wander in the four directions, blown by
the four winds; bring your mind back to the home of the One Lord (sggs 646).

He that does not love has not come
to know God, because God is love (Bible, 1John 4:8). Love your neighbor (Bible).

The
best type of yogi is he who feels for others, whether in grief or pleasure, even
as he feels for himself (Gita 6:32).

A lover's food is love for God ....Love
alone is worth hunting — but how can you catch it in your snare? Unless, perhpas,
you become His prey: Leave aside your snare and enter His! (Sufi Jalaluddin
Rumi).

Zuhiri's breast is full to the brim with the love of the beloved.
No place is left in my heart for hating my rivals (Sufi Sarmad).

The
scriptures and the world Masters ask us to be alert and vigilant for the corruption
being perpetrated in the name of religion and God. There is nothing in the world
so hellish as religious fanaticism and savage bigotry. Therefore, it's high time
for world-community of freethinkers, humanists, and intelligentsia; and people
of open mind, understanding, commonsense, and rational thought to stand up and
be counted. They should unequivocally denounce this barbarism for what it is:
The butchery of innocent people in the name of religion and God. They should examine
the tenets of their faith, constricted interpretations of their faith, any adulteration
of their scriptures and theology, and recognize its role in the instigation of
religious violence and killing in the name of their religion and God, as well
as its role in creating a godless civilization. Thus, there can be concerted international
action against international religious fanaticism and bigotry only if the international
community is of one firm mind and resolve. To clean up this swamp of corruption
and evil forces, people throughout the world must mobilize the silent majority
to defeat this evil power that inflicts the horrible plague upon the world. Otherwise,
the minority fanatics and bigots will only grow to create more havoc in the human
society!

ਦੁਨੀਆ ਹੁਸੀਆਰ ਬੇਦਾਰ ਜਾਗਤ ਮੁਸੀਅਤ ਹਉ ਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥: Duneeaa huseeaar bedaar jaagat museeat hayu re bhaaee:
People of the world, remain awake and aware. Even though you are awake, you are
being robbed, O Siblings of Destiny (sggs 972).

Be on the watch for the
false prophets that come to you in sheep's covering, but inside they ravenous
wolves (Bible, Matt 7:15). They publicly declare they know God, but they disown
him by their works (Bible, Titus 1:16).

Say: verily, my Lord hath guided
me to a Way that is straight, a religion of right.... (Quran, 6:161).

And
they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere
devotion, being True (in Faith); to establish regular Prayer; and to practise
regular Charity; and that is the Religion right and straight (Quran, 98:5).